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Myasthenia gravis (pronounced My-as-theen-ee-a grav-us) comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning “grave muscular weakness.” The most common form of MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by fluctuating weakness of the voluntary muscle groups. myasthenia.org Myasthenia gravis (pronounced My-as-theen-ee-a Grav-us) comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning “grave muscular weakness.” It’s caused by a breakdown in the normal communication between nerves and muscles in the body. While there is currently no cure, treatment can help relieve symptoms for many people. While myasthenia gravis can affect people of any age, it’s more common in women…

Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as an autoimmune disease. The word “scleroderma” comes from the Greek word “sclero”, meaning hard, and the Latin word “derma,” meaning skin. Hardening of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of the disease. The disease varies from individual-to-individual. Scleroderma is not contagious, infectious, cancerous, or malignant. scleroderma.org Scleroderma is a term for a group of diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of skin and connective tissues – and can also harm blood vessels, internal organs, and the digestive tract. Scleroderma is more likely to…

The Pregnancy and People with Multiple Chronic Health Conditions study aims to create new knowledge about perinatal outcomes and care provision in individuals with multiple chronic physical and/or mental health conditions. The. study is now recruiting participants to share their perinatal care experiences among people with multiple chronic health conditions in Ontario. If you are interested in learning more or participating in this study, please see below for more information!

Researchers from the Da Costa Lab at the McGill University Health Center are looking for new moms and dads in Canada living with autoimmune arthritis to participate in their study. Your participation would help them create resources to support parents like you through the transition to parenthood. If you have a child under the age of 6, currently live in Canada and are interested in taking their survey, see their website: https://ards-parenthood.ca/. You will be thanked for your time with a $15 gift card. Some participants will be contacted for a one-on-one interview. You would receive a $25 gift card for the interview. …

I want to share my experience with blood clots during pregnancy. Though my personal story, I hope that other women can better understand the very real possibility of a blood clot during pregnancy, and perhaps even save a life.  Debra Turner Bryant shares here personal experiences with blood clots during pregnancy and offers suggestions for women in similar situations. Real Stories from People Living with Blood Clots Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of motherhood with chronic illness is helping your children understand what is going on with your body and encouraging acceptance about how your illness may impact them. How can you help them develop empathy about what you’re experiencing, especially if your illness is invisible? Where’s the line between being honest and making them worry? What’s the best way to address their concerns in kid-friendly language? This is a topic that will likely need to be an ongoing discussion in your family – and sometimes reading a book together can help! Because there are…

MotherToBaby, a service of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), is the nation’s leading authority and most trusted source of evidence-based information on the safety of medications and other exposures during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Whether you are TTC (trying to conceive), pregnant, or breastfeeding, the MotherToBaby website has Fact Sheets (in English and Spanish) that answer frequently asked questions about the use of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can also email an expert or chat with one live if you have additional questions. If you are taking a medication while pregnant or breastfeeding, you can also…

For many moms, it is a time-honored tradition to have this thought on a regular basis: what do you mean it’s time to feed them AGAIN?!?! Feeding tiny humans (and their parents) is an endless and time consuming task!! We asked real mamas living with chronic illnesses to share their best tips and ideas for making cooking and meal planning easier! Weekly Menus & Grocery Lists “I sit down once a week with the schedule, look at what we have planned each day, estimate how tired I might be or how much time I will have to cook, and I…

For millions of people, chronic illnesses and depression are facts of life…Many people with [chronic illness] become depressed. In fact, depression is one of the most common complications of chronic illness. It’s estimated that up to one-third of people with a serious medical condition have symptoms of depression.Dealing With Chronic Illnesses and Depression, WebMD It’s extremely common for people living with chronic illness to struggle with their mental health. Being diagnosed with a lifelong illness can cause enormous life changes, make it difficult to do things you love, and impact your self confidence. Managing a lifelong chronic illness for years…

Whether you’re having a flare of your chronic illness or you caught a bug, keeping toddlers entertained when you don’t feel well is no easy task! We asked real mamas living with chronic illnesses to share their best ideas for entertaining toddlers when you don’t feel well. Relax your screen time guilt “No shame in screen time!” – Cheryl “We are camped out in front of the TV at times, and the guilt is real in these moments, but I try to remember that we need to have that downtime so we can rest and be ready for the next…